Spring-tooth for harrows



(No Model.)

W. M. BRINKERHOFF.

SPRING TOOTH FOR HARROWS.

No. 406.256. Patented July 2, 1889.

a :Rs nm-umo n mwa a small share, if preferred.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

IVARREF M. BRINKERHOFF, OF AUBURN, NEW' YORK.

SPRING-TOOTH FOR HARROWS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N0. 406,256, dated July 2, 1889.

Application filed May 24. 1889. erial No. 311.949. (N0 model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, l/VARREN M. BRINKER- HOFF, a citizen of the United States, residing at Auburn, county of Cayuga, State of New York, have invented a certain new and usefullimprovem ent in Spring-Teeth for Harrows; and I declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to whichit pertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification.

In the drawings, Figure 1 represents a perspective view of my improved spring-tooth for harrows or Cultivators. Fig. 2 represents a separate shoe. Fig. 3 shows the shoe integral with the shank. Figs. 4 and 5 represent variations.

It has been found in the use of spring-teeth in harrows or cultivators where a broad surface is presented to the line of draft immediately above the point or shoe that such broad surface serves to accumulate grass, weeds, and other debris; and it is the object of my improvement to obviate this difficult-y. This I accomplish by turning a portion of the spring-shank a short distance above the shoe at right angles to itself, thus causing the tooth to present a narrow edge rather than a broad surface to the front.

In the drawings, A represents the springshank of my improved spring-tooth, and B the shoe, which may be any desired shape, or The shank A is at a desirable point above the shoe turned at right angles to itself, thus causing the portion a to present a narrow edge rather than a broad surface to the front. Attached to the lower end of the spring-shank A is a U -shaped block 0, to which the shoe may be bolted, riveted, or otherwise fastened. It will be seen that but one bolt 0 is necessary to attach this block 0 to the spring-shank, since it has a firm bearing both on the side and edge of the spring-shank when held in place by the single bolt. If desired, the spring-shank may be provided with an elongated opening or with two or more holes, through which the bolt 0 may pass, thus permitting the shoe to be adjusted to a higher or lower level, as desired.

In stead of attaching a shoe to the shank itself, the shank itself may at its lower end be shaped into the form of a shoe or shovel made integral with the shank, as shown in Fig. 3.

A prominent feature of my improvement is the provision on the shoe of a web or flange projecting to'the rear and perforated for the passage of the fastening-bolt, and in connection therewith the extremity of the springtooth turned so as to presentits edges toward the front and rear. Of course any construction whereby this web or flange is provided would be contemplated by my invention, whether it were made integral with the shoe or blade itself or provided by the addition to the shoe or blade of a U-shaped block, as shown, or any other suitably-shaped block.

Another important feature is the construction whereby a spring-cultivator blade is attached to its shank by a single bolt running in a direction across the line of draft instead of, as heretofore, by a bolt or bolts running in the direction of the line of draft. I11 the latter case the strains or jerks were thrown lengthwise of the bolt and its nut to loosen them, while in a construction like mine the strain is crosswise of the bolt with no tendency to loosen it.

I would have it understood that the shank is to be constructed with its broad surface presented to the front and this broad surface is to be thus continued down to apoint near the shoe, so that the whole body of the shank shall be maintained as a spring shank, except through a very short length just above the shoe, at which point the shank is shaped to bring its edge to the front, or is constructed laterally for the purpose explained. By thus making the shank in the form of'a flat spring from its point of attachment to a point closely adjacent to the shoe, it is enabled to yield both upward and backward, the same as ordinary spring harrow-teeth, the turned or narrowed portion closely adjacent to the shoe being confined to that part only which is not required to be materially elastic. This preserves to the tooth the usual strong vibrations in a direction from front to rear, and this, in connection with the contracted portion just above the shoe, serves effectually to pulverize the soil and to break up the clods and tear and clear weeds and debris that would otherwise cling to the shank. In this connection I am aware that a harrow-tooth has been made with a small spring-section at its extreme end adjacent to the supportingframe, but which is turned to present its edge to the front, and so is practically rigid from that point to the shoe. Such a construction does not accomplish the purpose of my invention and is not claimed, since it fails to possess in use that vibratory motion forward and backward which is so essential in a properlyconstructed harrow to break up and pulverize the soil and to free itself of clods, weeds, and debris.

I would also have it understood that myinvention contemplates anyeonstruction wherein the broad springshank is contracted from side to side at a point immediately adjacent to the shoe. Thus, instead of twisting the metal of the shank a quartenturn, as shown, it might be heated and simply flattened from its edges, as shown in Fig. 4, orthe metal itself might be reduced from its flat form and massed at this point, as shown in Fig. 5.

hat I claim is 1. An arched flat spring-tooth for harrow or culti vator,havin g a broad surface presented to the line of draft throughout the main portion of its length, and having at its lower extremity a broad eartlrengaging part, and a narrower portion between the said earthengaging part and the main body of the tooth, substantially as described.

2. An arched flat spring-tooth for harrow or cultivator,having abroad surface presented to the line of draft throughout the main portion of its length, and having at its lower extremity a broad earth-engaging part, and a portion between the said earth-engaging part and the main body turned edgewise to the line of draft, substantially as described.

3. A flat spring-tooth for harrow or cultivator, having a broad surface presented to the line of draft throughout the main portion of its length and terminating at its lower extremity in a portion turned edgewise to the line of draft and provided with an attached point, substantially as described.

at. A spring-tooth for harrows or cult-ivators, consisting of a spring-shank turned near its lower end at right angles to itself, so as to present its edge to the front, and a shoe having a web or flange projecting back at right angles to its face parallel with and adapted to be fastened to the twisted end of said spring-shank, substantially as described.

5. The combination, with a spring harrow or cultivator tooth turned at right angles to itself and edgewise to the line of draft at or near its lower end, of a shoe engaged therewith by a transverse bolt passing through said edgewise port-ion back of said shoe, substantially as described. 7

In testimony whereof I sign. this specification in the presence of two witnesses.

\VARREN M. BRINKERIIOFF.

\Vitnesses:

W. H. CHAMBERLIN, L. A. DOELTZ. 

